Friday, October 2, 2020


 

I spent a good part of the day wondering if I was having a stroke, knowing that I wasn't, but was merely instead anxious as hell. 
There is no "merely" about anxiety. 

Before I went to sleep last night, not even knowing that Trump was infected, I started wondering what in hell would happen if he did get the virus and died before the election. I knew he'd been exposed to Hope Hicks and who knows who all else and although I will admit that for four years the idea of him dying did not exactly upset me, to put it nicely, it occurred to me that his death now would throw yet another complication out there to any sort of honest election and although it WOULD mean that he wouldn't be president again, how would it affect everything? Would the RNC have to choose another candidate? And how would that work? So every time I woke up in the night I fretted over this possibility because fretting and worrying are what I do best. It all resulted in me having another one of my museum-house dreams in which there were many, many bedrooms and bathrooms all completely filled with dirty bedding and towels and other assorted left-behind laundry that needed to be done. 
Have I moved on from the filthy kitchen? Is this progress?
There were a great many guests in the house and more to come. I was frantically trying to create some order, which was a Sisyphean task so daunting that I was grateful to wake up and realize I'd only been dreaming and then the next thing I knew, I was reading that Trump had indeed tested positive for covid. 

And now I have just heard that he's being flown to Walter Reed. 
Ooh boy. 

As I wrote to a friend of mine today, if there is one thing that Donald Trump is really, truly good at it is FUCKING THINGS UP! 

Do we even need to mention how truly ironic it is that the man has the virus? Or how predictable that he would get it? 
I think not. Some things are, as the Declaration of Independence says,  self-evident.

Rachel sent a group text with a link to an election law blog about how the situation would be handled should DT succumb to the Chinese Hoax Virus. I didn't really understand it all and didn't really try but there are answers. HERE is the link if you care to read it. I would advise having  more than one-half cup of coffee before you do. 

So yes- anxiety and I had no motivation to do anything but crossword puzzles and getting the sheets on the line. So I did those things. And then I decided that trying to make jam wouldn't be too stressful but might actually be therapeutic so I did that. I used the frozen strawberries along with some frozen Roseland mango puree and I cooked those down and down and down with sugar and lemon juice and that was all until it was of the right consistency and filled up my sterile jars and processed them in the canning kettle. I am quite pleased with the consistency and the flavor. I used the new large Dutch oven and it worked beautifully. At this point, I am very glad I bought those pots. It's nice to cook in a white-coated pot because it's so much easier to see what you're cooking. Does this make sense? It does to me. And the jam-making did alleviate my anxiety and made me feel as if I had accomplished something, at least. 

I realize that anything I do which gives me the slightest illusion of control is good thing to do and honestly, I need to remind myself of this frequently while knowing all along that it is all illusion but if it makes me feel better, then who cares? 

Here's a picture of Owen and one of the new rats his mama drove all the way to Jacksonville to a qualified breeder to get. 


This batch o' rats appears to be healthy and hearty. Lily said that when she took this, Owen was saying, "Dang girl! You got some big ears!" I think it's awesome that the kids have these little pets to take care of and tame and love on. I wish them long lives. 

And that's it. I mean, I could go on for days about Trump having covid but what's the point? If the past year has shown me anything, it's that I can't begin to predict what in hell is going to happen next and I don't even want to try. One thing I have learned is that it is not in the least helpful to say, "It can't get any worse."
Oh baby. Hold my beer. 

I am going to go tell Mr. Moon that it's time for him to make me a martini. It is Friday, right? I think so. Time has lost all meaning. It was two o'clock this afternoon before I realized I hadn't eaten lunch. I was astonished when I saw what time it was, truly thinking it was around 12:30.

So. On we go. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon

P.S. Please, please, PLEASE do not let Joe Biden get covid. Jesus take the wheel and protect him from the vile, germ-ridden spittle that flew from Trump's mouth on Tuesday night. 

Just saying. 





32 comments:

  1. Well the rat is good news. And such a Mom to go all that way to make sure his new friend was healthy.
    I had to stop stitching before my anxiety got into it. Peeled garlic for a while instead! I hear you.

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    1. I feel like my cooking is very much affected by my moods. Bread, especially. Hard to make a light loaf when the heart is heavy.

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  2. That Lily is some woman!
    May our friend Jesus spread that hope all over the Spanish speaking world. And then the rest.

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    1. Lily truly is some woman. An amazing woman. I am prouder of her every day.
      I agree with what you said about Jesus and the Spanish speaking world. And then the rest. Ha!

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  3. sorry about the anxiety...it is never *mere* I agree. I felt like crap today....physically and mentally......it's hot, I'm *over it*, didn't sleep well, the world is in a toilet.....so I spent most of the afternoon (as you did with your jam) doing something I can *sort of* control....my new hobby of quilling. Not quilting....quilling. It is tedious and tiny and I have to focus......which in itself is meditative and it worked today!
    Love that Lily is such a good Mom in getting Owen a new rat..... and how is Maurice's face today?
    Susan M

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    1. You know- I had heard of quilling but didn't actually know what it was so I looked it up. Appears to me to be something that does require all of your focus.
      Maurice's face looks about the same but she has left her pillow for hours at a time so I guess that's good.

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  4. If Pence were to have to assume presidential duties, then becomes unable to serve due to getting sick from COVID, guess who assumes the duties????? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi! That in itself should keep the GOP loading the Prez up on everything the docs will allow.

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    1. Yes, I know that Nancy is third in line but somehow I just don't think that it's going to come to that.
      Dammit.

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  5. Some things are self-evident indeed, it was inevitable. I have similar concerns that you have tho' on the added layer or confusion, chaos and crisis this has created so close to the Election. I can't feel the least bit magnanimous or sympathetic about the outcome, I don't pity Fools and this Fool has gotten so many people killed due to his criminal negligence, incompetence, withholding the Truth and intentionally Lying and spreading disinformation spewed from the very beginning to keep America confused and vulnerable. It's a Public Service he's removed so that Saner Heads may prevail. That Rat is adorable, I've come to rekindle a fondness for Rodents when I inherited the Granddaughter's Hamsters... she claimed they liked me better and she didn't like the surviving one anymore. Poor Hammy, he's stuck with me now.

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    1. Hamster jealousy! Oh no!
      It is a good thing that he's out of the house, so to speak. Donald and the White House, of course. I wonder if they could do a lobotomy while he's in the hospital? Or check to see if he has a heart, at least.

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  6. Everything you say. Yes. Please protect Uncle Joe. It’s been a very surreal day.

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  7. The jam sounds lovely. Maybe it would be a nice idea to get a grandchild or two to make arty labels for the jars..."MER BRAND: Strawberry and Mango - from Lloyd FL". From testing positive for COVID, it took nine days for our prime minister to be taken into hospital. He came very close to being put on a ventilator. He is 55 - almost twenty years younger than DJT.

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    1. Those labels would have to say "Mer Made"! Don't you think? I just wrote on the lids with sharpie.
      They know more now about treating covid than they did when BJ got it. They're not going to let Trump die. They just won't.

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  8. Nice jam and love the photo of Owen and his new rat. I hope Biden will be okay and I wish you sweet dreams and a peaceful night.

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    1. I love that picture of little Ratty too.
      Yes. Please let Uncle Joe be okay.

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  9. I almost called you outright last night to tell you. It was easily the most frantic night I've ever spent -- hours and hours of it out here on the west coast. Who the hell knows what's next.

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    1. No one knows what the hell is next. And you know you can always call me. Always.

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  10. I'm only surprised it took him this long to get infected. surprised that none of the rest of that horrid family isn't.they are nothing less than a bunch of arrogant pricks. Biden and Pelosi both found out that Trump was infected on the news. the worst thing about all this is that they are liars and secretive and the people of this country have no idea what is really going on.

    the jam sound delicious and a good way to take your mind off stuff.

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    1. I'm surprised it took this long too. And you are so right- we will never really know what's going on. He's the liar in chief and all of those below him, including family, are happy as hell to lie for him.
      The jam is good.

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  11. It IS a big roller coaster, isn't it? I assume if he died Pence would be the candidate -- or would the Repubs choose someone else? In any case, I think it would throw a big ol' hammer into the works, but I think the election would happen all the same. I just finished reading Jeffrey Toobin's article in The New Yorker about how complicated it could get even determining the winner -- so maybe I'll save Rachel's article until tomorrow!

    Bravo on the jam. At least you take that anxious energy and use it constructively.

    As Elizabeth said, who the hell knows what's next? This is the craziest year.

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    1. I swear- no matter what the rules are, Trump will find a way to break them. Even if he's fucking dead.
      Jam is a good thing to make while anxious. It requires a great deal of stirring.

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  12. If there is one thing you can believe, it is that you can't believe anything that comes out of the White House. Just read that his doctor said at a news conference a bit ago that T has had it 72 hours...which would mean since Wednesday? If so, what does it say about him that he went to MN and to NJ on Thursday--meeting with people outdoors and indoors--spreading the virus on his merry way. No words.

    Wishing relief for you of the overwhelming anxiety, Mary.

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    1. It says that DT doesn't give a dead rat's ass about the safety or anyone. And why does the White House physician keep giving different information that the docs at Walter Reed?
      It's all a big fat clusterfuck.

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  13. And looky-here at all the Republicans testing positive all of a sudden! Now they think that the press conference to announce the Supreme Court pick was the "super spreader" event! It's almost like them gleefully jumping at the chance to replace the beloved RBG brought down some near biblical divine wrath on their heads. Good.

    That's the cutest rat I ever saw in my life. Sweet!

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    1. Right? Now not only is Trump and his party of suckass minions responsible for the deaths of two hundred thousand people due to lies and irresponsibility, he's now directly responsible for who knows how many people being exposed and infected?
      Vomit, vomit, vomit.

      That is a cute rat though, right?

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  14. Your jam making sounds more fun than what I ended up doing today - de-caulking the shower. What a tedious job! But it did keep my mind of the current news. I hope he gets better soon so the election goes ahead and we can vote him out!

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    1. Caulking is not in my wheelhouse, as they say these days. But yeah, I would imagine that making jam is a lot more fun.
      I am so with you on that last sentence!

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  15. Seeing how many top Republicans are now coming down with the virus just brought to my mind an image of their faces on skittles at a bowling alley. It'll be "interesting" times if Trump survives this "hoax" won't it!

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    1. It's already way too interesting for me. I do love your skittles image though. Knock 'em down!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.